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IBEW Teams With Power Company to Push Eco-Generation

June 6, 2002

Washington state Local 112 is hoping the state government will approve a plan to build several new environmentally-friendly electricity generating facilities to address a chronic power shortage, attract businesses to the area and create more jobs.

Kennewick, Washington Local 112 Business Manager David Smith sent a letter to Washington Governor Gary Locke in support of Composite Power Corporations proposed integrated industrial power park in Richland, approximately 200 miles southeast of Seattle.

Composite Power in January signed a 50-year lease with the Department of Energy for use of the 1,000-acres, a partially completed nuclear site. Their plans call for the development of wind- and biomass-based generation as well as traditional gas- and coal-fired plants.

"The plan would help to ease the high unemployment rate our state is experiencing and provide life-long family wage jobs for our citizens," Smith said in his letter. "It would be a much-needed lift to the waning economy of Washington State and the Northwestern United States, utilizing vacant local resources."

Plans call for Composite to use the latest technology in its mix of power generating facilities, including a wind turbine that operates on a magnetic bearing base without friction and biomass-based generation involving cattle manure. Their plan also calls for power delivery using advanced integrated secure transmission systems. Smith said the company has developed power lines that cancel magnetic fields so power lines can be sited closer together. Site plans call include batteries to store generated energy to use wind and solar facilities at peak times.

The state, which has licensing and approval authority over proposed large power projects, considers the balance of environmental protection and concern for energy availability.

Smith said the gains for the local would include jobs creation in construction and renovation of the site. "Were always interested in environmentally serving the needs of our community."

The coastal Northwest was affected by Californias deregulation mess two years ago. While the area is not experiencing an energy shortage, Smith said there isnt much excess power either.